Jury Urges 13 Years For Slaying

NEWPORT NEWS — A Newport News man was found guilty of second-degree murder Thursday for killing another man three years ago - with the jury recommending he get 13 years in prison.

Glen Jones Jr., now 24, shot Joseph E. Miller III, 20, eight times shortly after the pair argued over a gun. Jones had contended he acted in self defense after Miller came after him with a knife.

The 12-member jury had the choice of convicting Jones of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, or acquitting him.

Second-degree murder carries a sentencing range of between five years and 40 years in prison, while a separate charge of using a gun in a felony - which Jones was also found guilty of - carries a mandatory three-year term.

The jury recommended 13 years - 10 years for murder, and three years on the gun charge. Jones will be sentenced in July by Circuit Court Judge C. Peter Tench. Judges typically follow the recommendations of juries in such cases.

On July 16, 2005, Miller and some other men had expected to have a fight with another group of men, and Miller wanted a gun for the occasion, according to trial testimony.

When Miller learned Jones had a gun - left at his house by another man - Miller wanted Jones to lend it to him. But Jones stalled in giving it to him, leading to a shouting match on Charles Street, near Fort Eustis. The shooting occurred shortly after the argument had begun to calm down, when Jones got in his car, and Miller and two other men had gathered near.

Jones said Miller flashed a knife at him before coming after him with it. Prosecutors said Miller wasn't holding the knife, but was killed in retaliation for the prior argument. Six of eight bullets struck Miller in the back or side.

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Dennis Guthinger pointed out that Jones lied to a Newport News police detective after the shooting, saying a man "dressed in white" had come out of nowhere to shoot Miller.

If it was self defense, Guthinger said, Jones would have "shouted it from the tallest building that he tried to kill me."

The knife was found in one of Miller's pockets, which didn't square with the theory that he was holding it in his hand, Guthinger said: "He would not decide to put it his pocket as he's taking his last breath."

But Jones' attorney, Martin Bullock, said Jones had no choice but to shoot. "Mr. Miller got what he deserved," Bullock said. At that point, Miller's mother, Lynnette Poindexter, said audibly from the audience, "No, he didn't."

After the conviction, Jones' father, Glen Jones Sr., a former Marine who now works in security, took the stand before the jury chose a sentence. His son was raised by two married parents, graduated from Menchville High School, and had no prior criminal record.

"Regina and I never imagined coming to a moment like this with our son," the elder Jones said, referring to his wife. There's a "darkness" in society, he said, that "strips our children of the true identity of who they are."

The younger Jones also took the stand, saying he heard his mother cry only twice in his life - the day he was arrested and in court Thursday. He said he had apologized to Miller in his prayers, but continued to maintain his action was justified.

"I feel like if I didn't make that choice ... I would have chosen to die."